Contents [hide]

Cottrell History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Ireland United States Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Citations

Cottrell History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The name Cottrell reached England in the great wave of migration following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The name Cottrell is for a serf or bond tenant who held a cottage by service. The name is derived from the Old English cote, which means "shelter," or "cottage."

"In feudal times, 'the coterellus held in absolute villenage and had his person and goods disposed at the pleasure of the Lord.' Kennet's Paroch. Antiq. He was probably so called, like the Cotmanni, or Cottarii of Domesd. from residing in a cottage. Another origin may be from the cotarelli, costeraux, cotemux, mercenary soldiers and freebooters whose trade was war and pillage, (Conf. Brabazon) and who were so called from the coterel, a large knife they carried. Cotgrave defines cotereaux as 'a certaine crue of peasantly outlawes who in old time did much mischiefe unto the nobilitie and clergie.' " 1

Early Origins of the Cottrell family

The surname Cottrell was first found in Somerset where Stephan Coterel and Walter Coterel were both listed 1 Edward III (during the first year of the reign of King Edward III.) 2

The Pipe Rolls listed William Coterel in 1130 in London and Gerard Coterel in Berkshire in 1170. Later the Assize Rolls on 1288 listed Honde Cotrell. 3

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 listed Richard Coterell, Devon; Alice Coterel, Cambridgeshire; and Henry Coterel, Bedfordshire. 4

In Devon, John Coterell was Warden of St Mary's College, Ottery St Mary in 1379.

Early History of the Cottrell family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Cottrell research. Another 84 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1572, 1615, 1621, 1624, 1631, 1641, 1654, 1686, 1691, 1701, 1710, 1758 and 1847 are included under the topic Early Cottrell History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Cottrell Spelling Variations

The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries. For that reason, spelling variations are common among many Anglo-Norman names. The shape of the English language was frequently changed with the introduction of elements of Norman French, Latin, and other European languages; even the spelling of literate people's names were subsequently modified. Cottrell has been recorded under many different variations, including Cotterell, Cotterel, Cotteral, Cotteril, Cotterill, Cottral, Cottrall, Cottrell, Cottrel, Coterall, Coterel, Coteril, Coterill, Cotrall, Cotrell, Cottrle, Cotral, Cotraul, Cotrelly and many more.

Early Notables of the Cottrell family

More information is included under the topic Early Cottrell Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Cottrell Ranking

In the United States, the name Cottrell is the 2,150^th most popular surname with an estimated 14,922 people with that name. 5

Migration of the Cottrell family to Ireland

Some of the Cottrell family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Cottrell migration to the United States +

To escape the uncertainty of the political and religious uncertainty found in England, many English families boarded ships at great expense to sail for the colonies held by Britain. The passages were expensive, though, and the boats were unsafe, overcrowded, and ridden with disease. Those who were hardy and lucky enough to make the passage intact were rewarded with land, opportunity, and social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families went on to be important contributors to the young nations of Canada and the United States where they settled. Cottrells were some of the first of the immigrants to arrive in North America:

Cottrell Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Ambroce Cottrell, who landed in Virginia in 1649 6
Jere Cottrell, who landed in Virginia in 1656 6

Cottrell Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

S B Cottrell, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1851 6
David Cottrell, who arrived in Arkansas in 1858 6
William Cottrell, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1872 6
Am. Cottrell, aged 29, who landed in America, in 1896

Cottrell Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Annie Cottrell, who settled in America, in 1904
Annie Cottrell, aged 44, who landed in America from Newport, in 1906
Albert S. Cottrell, aged 16, who immigrated to the United States, in 1919
Annie Marion Cottrell, aged 25, who immigrated to the United States from Liverpool, England, in 1920
Arthur Cottrell, aged 46, who settled in America, in 1924

Cottrell migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Cottrell Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. James Cottrell, British convict who was convicted in Warwick, Warwickshire, England for life, transported aboard the "England" on 6th June 1835, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 7
Emily Cottrell, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Katherine Stewart Forbes" in 1839 8
Thomas Cottrell, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Katherine Stewart Forbes" in 1839 8
Elizabeth Cottrell, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Katherine Stewart Forbes" in 1839 8
Peter Cottrell, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Lady Lilford" in 1839 9
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Cottrell migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Cottrell Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Joseph Cottrell, aged 21, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Tongariro" in 1888
James Cottrell, aged 20, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Tongariro" in 1888

Contemporary Notables of the name Cottrell (post 1700) +

Mickey Cottrell (1944-2024), American Hollywood publicist, independent film producer and occasional actor
James La Fayette Cottrell (1808-1885), American politician, U.S. Representative from Alabama
Porter Cottrell (b. 1962), American IFBB professional bodybuilder, winner of countless awards
Melvin Cottrell (1929-2002), American Republican Party politician, Member of the New Jersey General Assembly (1992-2002)
Theodore John Cottrell "T. J." Cottrell Jr. (b. 1982), American football tight end
Ensign Stover Cottrell (1888-1947), American Major League Baseball pitcher who played from 1911 to 1915
Roswell Fenner Cottrell (1814-1892), American Seventh Day Baptist preacher, counsellor, writer, hymnist and poet
Erin Cottrell (b. 1975), American actress, best known for her roles in the Love Comes Softly series
Louis Cottrell (1878-1927), nicknamed "Old Man," American jazz drummer, father of Louis Albert Cottrell, Jr
Louis Albert Cottrell Jr. (1911-1978), American Louisiana Creole jazz clarinetist and tenor saxophonist
... (Another 31 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Cottrell family +

HMS Hood

Mr. Albert E Cottrell (b. 1913), English Ordinary Seaman serving for the Royal Navy from Ryde, Isle of Wight, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 10

Senghenydd colliery

Mr. Thomas James Cottrell (b. 1894), Welsh coal miner from Senghenydd, Caerphilly, Wales who was working at the Senghenydd colliery when there was an explosion on the 14th October 1913; he died

Citations +

Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
Hanks, Patricia and Flavia Hodges, A Dictionary of Surnames. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1988. Print. (ISBN 0-19-211592-8)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 28th April 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/england
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) KATHERINE STEWART FORBES 1837 arrived Holdfast Bay, near Adelaide, on October 17, 1837. . Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1837KatherineStewartForbes.htm
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) LADY LILFORD 1839. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1839LadyLilford.htm
H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm